Pacioretty “honoured” by six-year extension

LONDON – Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty says it’s an “honour” to be able to call Montreal his hockey home for the next seven years.

The 23-year-old on Monday signed a six-year, $27-million contract extension reported to be worth $4.5 million per season. His current deal still has one year to run, the extension to begin following the 2012-13 season.

Pacioretty would have been a restricted free agent with arbitration rights at the end of the coming season.

“This is something I wanted to get done,” Pacioretty said from his off-season Connecticut home late Monday night. “I think once the team knew I wanted to get it done, they jumped on the opportunity as well.

“The biggest thing for me is, my career has been maybe plagued by instability and just to be able to call Montreal home for seven years is such an honour. I want to do whatever I can to help this team win and this will help me focus on that for years to come.”

The instability, as Pacioretty calls it, hasn’t exactly been his fault. He suffered a fractured vertebra and a severe concussion in March 2011 when famously slammed into a Bell Centre stanchion by Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara.

Pacioretty rehabbed furiously and returned to start the 2011-12 season in great shape, which led to his enjoying a breakout season, his fourth in the NHL. He led the Canadiens with 65 points, ranked second only to power forward Erik Cole in goals scored with 33 and was ranked third with 32 assists.

Pacioretty played 79 games last season, missing three by suspension, and along the way scored five game-winning goals and had 286 shots on goal, which tied him for 10th in that category in the NHL.

In recognition of his remarkable comeback, Pacioretty won the NHL’s 2011-12 Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy this past June, awarded by a Professional Hockey Writers’ Association vote to the player deemed to best demonstrate perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

The Canadiens are likely to hold a teleconference with Pacioretty on Tuesday to discuss his signing, which the club announced on Twitter and on its website late Monday.

“I just got out of the shower tonight and my phone was bombarded,” Pacioretty said, laughing, of the earthquake once the signing was announced. “I don’t know how it went out but I signed it today and I guess the team broke the news. I’m not really sure about that.

“We haven’t done anything (with the media). I have a message from Dom (team media relations manager Dominick Saillant) that I didn’t check.”

He laughed again.

“Maybe I should have checked it before I talked to you. I don’t know what the plan is but we might do (a call) tomorrow.

“It’s always been my mentality that I want to focus on winning hockey games right now. I think when you’re playing for yourself and playing for your contract, you kind of get away from the team mentality. So just being locked up for six years, I feel at home.

“The organization has taken a chance on me and now my job is to prove to them that I can help this team win games and I hope to do that for seven more years.”

Pacioretty continues to train with great gusto, as he always does in the off-season, and expects that when the NHL season begins, whenever that is, he’ll be in the best shape of his life.

“I’m doing a pretty good job of (training), coming back to my normal routine,” he said. “Who knows what’s going to happen with the beginning of the season? But I’m acting as if the season is going to start on time and if not, then I think I’ll be in better shape than ever.

“I’ll expect that, when we do start, I’ll be in the best shape of my life.”

MB is live on TSN as I type.
They’re obviously excited to lock Max and Carey to long-term deals, the door is open for DD.
As for PK, “the process is ongoing”
He has no comments on the CBA negotiations.
For him, “it’s business as usual” and he’s not involved in those negotiations.
On the Shayne Doan subject, an offer was given, and they’re waiting on him.
The other UFA’s pool is pretty shallow, and he says very quiet.

EDIT: MB actually said that they’ve inquired with the Doan camp, and are waiting.

I wouldn’t say they NEED agents. I am sure many could negotiate their own contracts and do just as well.

But why would you spend all that time and effort when you can pay someone to do it for you? Far less hassel and homework required. I bet most of the players don’t clean their own houses either…. but I bet they could if they really had too.

You are right though, running a league is a little bit different than playing hockey.

What if the league were to form another league — a discount version?
NHL Lite.
None of the players are paid over $500,000 a year. And any team profits over, say, five per cent, is put into pension, capital and player development funds. All audited by a disinterested accounting firm.
NHL Lite ‘n’ Honest.
Or AHL II

Imagine then Montreal would get real NHL hockey players instead of the mish mash of washed up veterans and too skinny rookies who are pushed up way too early to make up for the lazy Gomez/Gionta line and add the other lines to that as well.

And Fehr saying No,No,No I want my way like in Baseball. I doubt there is anyone out there saying the players are under paid? Also that a lot of GM’s are also idiots for some stupid contracts they give out?

I listened last night to a supposed interview with him. He claimed to be 37, drafted in 1993 and played that year in the NHL. Some claim his initials are A.D. but he wouldn’t confirm…do the goggle. Mind you that player was probably flacky enough for this…unfrigging real!

Yeah I checked that out too. On @kyriacou22’s Blog they mention reading his FB page where he reports graduating from Ontario Hockey Academy in 2000, meaning that he was 18 in 2000. and with incarceratedbob saying he was drafted direct into the NHL in 93, I guess at age 11, making him a phenom for sure.

Kind of feel sorry for the kid. He will have to polish his act before going clubbing because the bouncers aren’t buying that line.

My interpretation of Max’s statements and the fact that he approached the team for a contract extension, is that he is worried that another incident like the “hockey play” that the neanderthal inflicted on him is always possible in today’s NHL. He is worried that the league is not doing enough to protect their players, and his career could end at anytime.

While he certainly doesn’t play like he’s scared to get hurt, I’m sure that hit is still in the back of his mind.

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Well, he’s kind of had it in for me ever since I accidentally ran over his dog. Actually, replace “accidentally” with “repeatedly” and replace “dog” with “son.”

“It’s sad when our rookies have no NHL experience before they jump up to the NHL.” – nunacanadien

I think he realizes anything can happen and he wants the security of a long term contract. It might have benefited him to play out the next RFA season, but you can’t tell me that that hit is not still on his mind.

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Well, he’s kind of had it in for me ever since I accidentally ran over his dog. Actually, replace “accidentally” with “repeatedly” and replace “dog” with “son.”

“It’s sad when our rookies have no NHL experience before they jump up to the NHL.” – nunacanadien

And that’s you’re interpretation. But you can’t deny the amount of concussions and dirty plays that are in the NHL today are not in the back of most players minds. With Max being a victim of one already, I don’t see why it’s so ridiculous to think that it factored into his decision of approaching the team for a contract extension now rather than later.

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Well, he’s kind of had it in for me ever since I accidentally ran over his dog. Actually, replace “accidentally” with “repeatedly” and replace “dog” with “son.”

“It’s sad when our rookies have no NHL experience before they jump up to the NHL.” – nunacanadien

I’m not sure i will ever move on from that hit. It exposed Colin Campbell for the fraud that he was. It exposed Boston fans for the jerks that they are. It exposed Chara for the goon he is. And it put into question the “Starley Cup Champiars”.

Chrisadiens and HabFan10912, one of the few father son tandems on HIO.

Pac traded $1 mil + per year for stability, which is a rare commodity for a player. No mention of a NTC or a NMC at capgeek yet, so we’ll have to wait and see.
IMO, he’s not worried about another “hockey play”. It’s a dangerous sport and he will be well paid for it. If he turns into a perennial 30 goal scorer, this will be a helluva bargain. Here’s hoping his contract is the steal of the decade.

Yes this contract is already looking like the steal of the century, but with the amount of concussions, dirty injuries that are in the NHL today, it seems to me he wants that security more than he thinks that his play will decline next season.

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Well, he’s kind of had it in for me ever since I accidentally ran over his dog. Actually, replace “accidentally” with “repeatedly” and replace “dog” with “son.”

“It’s sad when our rookies have no NHL experience before they jump up to the NHL.” – nunacanadien

TORONTO – The Canadian Press reports that NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr will put forward “an alternative view” of how the National Hockey League’s economic system should operate.
Here are a few of the ideas the union will be presenting:

– players will offer an annual discount on salary, on a sliding scale, the longer the contract term is, starting at Year Three; for example, Player B signs a three-year contract and gives a one per cent discount; signs for 10 years, he gives an 8 per cent discount, 20 years, 18 per cent discount.
“We’re trying to make long-term contracts more attractive for the owners,” Fehr said. “Look at how much they save if they sign a player for 52 years – 50 per cent!”

– players will not object to wearing uniforms with ads on them, as long as they get a portion of the revenues, and ALL of the money for having business logos tattooed on their faces, or screened on their visors.

– players will be allowed to sell NHL-certified pucks they scored with on eBay.
“A guy like Gill could make a fortune, given the rarity of the event,” said HockeyInsiderr.

– players will be paid overtime for shifts longer than 45 seconds.
(They will also be paid overtime for overtime. “It’s an outrage they’ve never been,” Fehr said.)

– owners agree to provide low-interest loans at ticket sales offices for fans wanting to see at least one NHL game in person during their lifetime – or even after. (“Just prop up Uncle Billy in the aisle seat, willya, Mary, this is what he would have wanted.”)

ahahaha JB you sir are good. I started reading this without looking at the poster’s name and read up to the end of the 2nd paragraph thinking this is actually real… needless to say I had a face-palm moment shortly after
Thanks

What a great deal for the team. I almost feel bad for Max. With all the high salaries given out to marginal players lately, Max could’ve gotten much much more. I guess it wasn’t just about money for Max. Shows a lot of character. More importantly, now I can actually buy a jersey with a name on the back without the fear that the player will be gone in the near future. Max is here to stay. Take to the streets and rejoice!

Chrisadiens and HabFan10912, one of the few father son tandems on HIO.

Remember it was him who approached the team for an extension and not the other way around.

If he waited for next year he would have received a huge pay day but by doing it after only one really great season they are both taking risk but it removes any of that stress of having to worry about a contract. He will only be 30 years old when this contract is over and I am sure he can still make a few more MILLION LOL

I am huge fan of his as well and think he will be a steal, it is just the timing. If he struggled next year or had an injury it would hurt his dollars and or term of his deal. To me this is a fair deal on both sides. Could he have got a little more probably but with so much instability in his last couple of years I think this gives him peace of mind to focus on hockey….27 million is still a lot of cash

Max is a true character guy, and I think this is typical of that. The Habs are taking a gamble – long term contracts are risky and even though as the article says his missing time isn’t his fault, sometimes players that have severe injuries seem to have more of the same later. Max’s gamble is that he might be worth more later… but so what? $4.5/year is a good payday and he gets stability which he wants. Why be greedy and gamble on being bounced around? This is a win-win on both sides and a smart move by both Max and the Habs.

Gerald!
I had to give all the good seats to you guys. I had to take a job just to get into the Bell Center.
I have to sit on the end of the players bench and help out with the bench door! Look what I have to do for all you guys.

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Well, he’s kind of had it in for me ever since I accidentally ran over his dog. Actually, replace “accidentally” with “repeatedly” and replace “dog” with “son.”

“It’s sad when our rookies have no NHL experience before they jump up to the NHL.” – nunacanadien

Hudon looked great last night. It was the first game that I got to watch….but the commentators were saying how he has been one of Canada’s best for the 3 games so far. If he has a good start to the season…he should make team Canada

Although he isn’t the biggest player out there….he still plays a physical game, which is great to see.

“I think I may have found a way for us to get Griffey and Bonds, and we really won’t have to give up much” -Costanza

I have it on good authority that today’s response by the players’ association to the league’s provocative, hard-nosed bargaining stance will be, surprisingly, evenhanded: slaps to both sides of Bettman’s face.
I jest.
Actually, I’ve been told by an informed source – HockeyInsiderr – that the union will insist team owners engage in self-amusement of a carnal, and I would have to think, highly improbable nature.
In strongly urging the owners to enjoy themselves the players have clearly seized the high ground and strengthened their hand in negotiations, showing themselves to be more concerned with their employers’ state of happiness than their own financial well-being.
Such a sacrifice of interest will not go unnoticed in the court of public opinion. IMO.

This signing is great I think. Nice to see it get done so soon. What’s really interesting is that Patches is being signed before PK.

Can they realistically give one of our best, if not our best Dman….less then Pacioretty?
Nice to see we are locking up our young guys to six year deals….they can grow together. Pacioretty, Gorges, Price, Plekanec. Good core.

“I think I may have found a way for us to get Griffey and Bonds, and we really won’t have to give up much” -Costanza

I think a vital difference is that Max was already on his 2nd contract with the Habs, whereas PK is coming off his entry deal. There is a graduated curve with most players contracts and while I believe PK is deserving of a healthy raise and some term, I am sure Meehan views his client as a pre-eminent up and comer who should be treated like a veteran given the role he has played on this team the past few years.

This is a delicate negotiation which requires some good stickhandling by MB. The key for me is that there seems to be no “Negative” rhetoric coming from either camp throughout these negotations. I am sure MB recognizes the importance in signing PK, but he also needs to be a caretaker of this teams future in figuring out what contract to give this young man, who shows great future earning power.

Less than Pacioretty? Yes.
Be nice to see him locked up for 2 years a la Price before his latest contract. Then, he can get the term and dollars. Still, somewhere around $8 mill total for 2 seasons is nothing to sneeze at.

So I think a week or so ago the Devils were only 20Million away from having enough to settle their lending agreements with banks. They are now only 18Million shy with a deadline of today. I guess street busking just isn’t as profitable as it once was.

Interesting that the Banks probably won’t put the Devils into Bankruptcy but instead will probably provide another extension to Vanderbeek.

Is this not a telltale sign of that franchises value or perhaps moreso a sign of what franchises in the NHL are really worth? The fact the lenders are not confident they can get their money back if they put this team on the market, despite the fact this team has been one of the best managed teams in the league over the past 20 years.

I do realize bankruptcy is never an ideal way for a lender to get its money back, but it does make you wonder how other financial institutions are looking at providing financing for other current and future owners of NHL franchises throughout the league.

I think it is a product of the next generation and the need to have information provided immediately. Us “old schoolers” still don’t mind turning the page on a paper and reading what it tells us Chris. 😉

What kills me are that 80% of what the insiders tell us never comes true. Conversations are held in the NHL every day, with very few players going through their careers without being discussed.

I don’t need to know about these discussions…it contributes nothing to know who might have been included. More importantly, it can do a lot of damage. Tomas Plekanec freely admitted to being put off about being included in the Lecavalier rumours a few years ago, for example.

Mike Komisarek was a traitor for signing with a rival, but the fans were innocent for discussing trading him and every other player on a weekly basis? That is an awfully unidirectional relationship!

I know that it is a business, but people are gossiping about player’s lives. There is huge upheaval associated with a trade. Families have to decide whether the spouses and kids uproot their lives or whether they stay behind and live without dad for a few months.

Every time I see fans complain about the lack of player loyalty, I need only think about the rampant popularity of gossip sites to see why the players owe the fans absolutely nothing. They are paid very well to be mercenaries, and are treated as such, if not as outright chattel. Why should they factor the fans, who harbour absolutely zero loyalty to them, into any decisions about their financial or playing futures?

I’d love it if all these so-called hockey insiders were canned tomorrow. They contribute nothing positive to the sport of hockey.

That is a different area from why do people follow – this is why do people make shit up.

A great way to make a few bucks with a hobby is to sit on your butt and let the info flow to you. Regardless of veracity you take the bits and pieces (cherry pick ideas), spin it around, and build something on their work. (The thing is you fall into your own trap and believe they are working rather than sitting on their butts doing exactly what you do:-)

So if you start out with hype and nothing, follow a few professionals like McKenzie plus buckets of speculators, pretty soon you have something to say. You can hit the twitterverse about the same time as the reporter who dug out the story (or was standing by the fax) and then argue incessently about who was first.

Anyway once you have a few people sucked in you flatter them by offering to post their comments as comments on your new blog and try to get hits and make some money. (You can get the same number of hits by writing Pam Anderson all over the script and pages but that’s a different field. )

It is what it is. The tough part is that decision makers just look at numbers provided by numbers people. They see high numbers and think that’s the way to go. Pretty soon you have guys like McKenzie fighting for their jobs and media that is nothing more than paps snapping pictures hoping for a costume malfunction.
IMHO

The scary thing for me is that people like McKenzie really don’t contribute all that much themselves anymore. McKenzie’s schtick of late has been to simply refute the rumour mongers, not actually contribute any meaningful sports journalism of his own.

There are precious few journalists left in hockey, and I’m not sure that you can include many of the folks that work for the television networks. McKenzie had substance once upon a time, but its been a while since I’ve read his articles because I found he became too enamoured with being popular around the league. He’s basically to the NHL what Peter King is to the NFL: a guy that occasionally uncovers a gem, but is largely trite.

There aren’t many left that I follow outside of this website. Scott (S.L.) Price is often one of the best, and I used to love Paul Zimmerman (Dr. Z) at Sports Illustrated before his stroke. Jon Wertheim, the tennis reporter at Sports Illustrated, is also one of my favourites.

It is just amazing to me that we have two full-time sports networks in Sportsnet and TSN plus The Score, which has some CRTC limitations but certainly qualifies as a sports network. Yet the journalistic chops from the television side are almost non-existent. It is really sad.

Newspapers are fading away. We need our television networks to step up and fill the journalistic void that is developing. I understand why they haven’t done so, because investigative journalism is expensive, but I still condemn them for failing to rise above the bare minimum level.

Tangent on your main point, but I agree that Peter King is abysmal. He totally failed in his duty to the readers on the botched job he did covering Ben Roethlisberger before and after the sexual assault scandal. He’s an insider only in that he has lots of access, but he’s the biggest booster of the NFL instead of an objective reporter. I could go on about his self-importance and his propensity for telling us what he had to eat for breakfast, but I don’t want to go on a 20 paragraph rant. Again.

I think people like the drama and talking about “what ifs”. But you can’t start anything with “What if” all the time or after a while people ignore you. But if you hang it on “Hey, Hockeyyinslider tweeted that…”.

I think people like hype and excitement. That is why we do things that are otherwise stupid. Some of the folks following insliders will hear junk in their respective areas, pass it on, and it all grows. Eklund is famous for it.

Hudon looked small but smart last night. Glad the Habs didn’t draft Grigorenko, he looked the same as the playoffs last spring. Maybe he is still ill.

A former housemate of mine was a good pitching prospect that the Jays were looking at in the late rounds in his draft year. Unfortunately for him, he caught mono and it took over a year for him to be symptom free. Even a year later, his spleen was still relatively enlarged. It can take a long time for that to go away.

Not saying that mono is still bugging Grigorenko, just that it absolutely could.

Just do not care about so called insiders even the professionnal ones. The only one that has any credibility in my book is Bob Mckenzie that has obvious friends in high places but still keeps humble and does not try to get the absolute scoop.

Of course today with twitter and facebook any geek can pretend to be a genius and try to get a life with pretending to know things. Problem is those guys get their reputation from people talking about them or their rumors on here and elsewhere. I just do not care nor do i about the how about if we trade for that guy ? kind of discussion 99.9999% of the time it is wasted time and people then criticize real life organizations for not doing things they never considered doing !

If there is a 20% salary rollback to resolve the lockout (which many people expect), that means Pacioretty will be earning just $3.6 million for the next 6 years! This could be the best contract the Habs ever signed! Almost makes you feel like they took advantage of Patches!

Nonsense. If there is a 20% rollback on salary, which is a big if, it will be because there will be a 20% rollback on the cap, so the Canadiens won’t be any further ahead. Things got cheaper to buy, but we suddenly had correspondingly less money to spend. Even steven.

I like when a team shows preference to their own talent, locking them up early for an important chunk of their career. One cannot know how Pacioretty will perform for the rest of his career, but it is much smarter to own a 23 year old 30 goal scorer for six season than to own a 35 year old for four seasons. This is the kind of signing that makes ownership, the player, the team and the fans happy.

So, we’re sitting ducks here on what’s going to happen next. If this counter-offer that the NHLPA will make the league satisfied, then we can stop worrying about what’s going to happen next. I’m guaranteed that Buttman and his board of directors will reject the offer and another 4-5 weeks of this will just drag this into another mess.

Maybe its time for fans to get a head’s up: Sept. 15 is a possible lockout.

EDIT: Other than that, I don’t see any of other junior talen from here playing at the Canada-Russia summit series. Where’s Brendan Gallagher and Nathan Beaulieu?

So I have a bit of theory on how these CBA negotiations are going with regards to the League’s perspective.

Gary Bettman has until Sept. 15th (or perhaps a slightly later date) to get the most he can out of the players to help all the weak sisters in the League. After the 15th or whatever predetermined date, the power brokers of the owners (Ranger, Bruins, Hawks, Wings, Leafs and maybe Habs) put their foot down and tell Gary to get a deal done and that even if it means the current CBA is reused they are okay with it.

Given the new owners of the Leafs (TSN/Sportsnet), the owner of the Flyers (Snider – Comcast/NBC Sports connection), the Rangers with their MSG network, all these teams will be pushing very hard to have games on their networks ASAP into the season.

Seems pretty evident that these big boys of the league are really not interested in having to pay to subsidize their little brothers and sisters. Afterall, they sat out an entire year to get a deal which Gary promised them all would solve the little guys problems. They aren’t going to want to give up their revenues again.

Good morning. I like it. Since the Habs are one of the reported big revenue givers they better have a high influence in this. We know that Jacobs and Bettman are joined at the hip and I don’t find much comfort there.
Will be an interesting day as the NHLPA presents their counter offer today. More Bettman grandstanding on tap today is my guess.

I really like the way Bergevin is doing things. Am very happy that Max got this well deserved deal.

I cannot help but think that things will get better and better.We basically have the same team we had last year,no major changes but only where it counts,off ice.
Bergevin is managing ,players just need to play . If everyone sticks to their job things should be o.k.

It sends a strong message in a city where the medias tend to think they have their word to say on how it should be done. Bergevin is setting the example . I do my job, just do yours. As un canadien errant stated in an earlier post clearly now the rumors with generally well informed sources are worth nothing from now on and there is only one captain on this ship.

I wish these signings at times would never come out immediately. Why? Because we already know how the french media or I should say “RDS” likes to put a leash on the Canadiens on what’s happening and what their poor excuse of lame opinions are on the players, coaches, and management.

For me though, I still believe Bergevin and the Habs are ‘closely monitored’ by the french media.

…les americains de Montréal !
…I’m getting real comfortable with this
…character like Gionta, Patches and Cole is making it easy
…Gomer ? …well, no One said Life, America, Quebec or les canadiens were ‘perfect’, did They ?
…Gomer being the Pauline Marois of Our Montreal Canadiens
…no ! …that’s too harsh on Scot …Marois is in a league of her own

Nice office, heck Bob Gainey had an equally nice cherry colored desk too, but hey it’s what’s on the ice that counts in the end. And let’s see what we can see…..some changes made but really did the habs get bigger and tougher? No. We got Prust who I doubt will fight, look at Laraques. Which tough guy is gonna wanna lay it all on the line or be emotional about fighting for a team that is lacklustre, unable to shoot on the net and which loses games regularly after blowing a first period lead? Nobody. So did Bergevin make a significant change to Montreal? Yes, he brought a very nice looking chair, to add to the equally nice contracted employees who will not talk to a guy like Hal Gil nor even give him the time of day….geeze, didn’t Pierre Gauthier have a similar office too?

At least Hal Gill has a real hockey team to play on with some real hockey executives who actually listen and use the advice….something lacking in Montreal where the board of directors dictate when Bergevin can take a crap and how many sheets of toilet paper he can use…..ok exagerating but really, so what if Doan wants to come to Montreal, it would take a month for the ownership committee to decide whether it wants to give away the farm to keep a real hockeyplayer for once.

Owner ‘hi, i’m an owner, here’s what i want to pay you.’
Player ‘golly gosh mr owner, thanks!’
Owner ‘now player, you’re gonna have to use that money wisely, to start, you’ll have to pay for your own transportation to each game.’
Player ‘no problem mr owner.’
Owner ‘and you’ll have to rent your ice time with the other players, oh and your uniforms, you have to rent those also.’
Player ‘sure thing mr owner.’
Owner ‘Oh ya, and you’ll have to pay me as well, oh but don’t worry, we’ll just deduct it all out of your paychecks, any questions?’
Player ‘so… what do you do again?’

It looks like secretive to the point of malady Pierre Gauthier has nothing on Marc Bergevin. Our GM is open and honest with the media and the public, but also runs a tight ship with no leaks. He got Carey Price and Max signed along with all the lesser lights with no rumours or craziness in the blogs or Twitter.

I’m going to adopt a mindset that if there’s a rumour the Canadiens are up to something, it’s definitely not true, until proven otherwise. In a short summer Mr. Bergevin has shown he’s not going to do his business in the media like other more flamboyant GM’s.

———————————————————————–This isn’t “Billionaires vs. Millionaires.” Only a willfully uninformed fool would apply that sloppy shorthand designation to this disgraceful power grab crafted by some of the wealthiest individuals and corporate entities in North America aimed against professional athletes.–Larry Brooks of the New York Post

Therrien is the indicator that something is still wrong in Montreal. Which superstar is going to feel comfortable with having to learn how to drink a cup of tea with which pinky finger so the boss can be happy? No one. Therrien is a beast, and we have nothing but wimps. At least if we had the Kosty boys they would at least kick Therrien in the nuts like they did to Gainey and Gauthier. These corporate hockey executives deserve all the trouble they get.

How did HockeyInsipiderr not get tipped off that this was coming? I’m thinking of unfollowing him.

A benefit aside from the obvious ones is that this deal may help set the price for a young budding superstar on the Canadiens and may help along the P.K. negotiations.

EDIT: Oh, and how much is he actually going to make on this deal, once he’s chipped in his share (what was it the owners were asking? 20%? 25?) to keep the Greg Jamison-Gary Bettman Coyotes in business? I was going to do the math, but I sprained my irony.

———————————————————————–This isn’t “Billionaires vs. Millionaires.” Only a willfully uninformed fool would apply that sloppy shorthand designation to this disgraceful power grab crafted by some of the wealthiest individuals and corporate entities in North America aimed against professional athletes.–Larry Brooks of the New York Post

Or remember that the City of Glendale has covered losses not the NHL something which does not happen in the other 3 dog franchises.
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The cerebral insight of PJ Stock:

I don’t have the exact numbers handy, but while the City of Glendale helps cover the losses, I am not sure they cover all the losses of that franchise. Perhaps with some playoff dates these past two seasons it was close, but without playoff revenue i am not sure the Glendale cheques cover that entire teams losses.

But then MaxPac doesn’t have to do the mexican hat dance for the ownership committee to earn his millions. Fans its what is on the ice that counts, not this worship of the GM and Molson, who have given us nothing but an even now more smaller team. At least Gauthier tried to get a bigger team before he was fired for admitting what everyone knows, “It’s the Montreal Smurfs!” as they are introduced in all the American rinks south south…..

If only that were the case. Chances are while Subban says one thing, he sees another, that the team is another washup going into another losing season and chances are Subban is trying to save face by doing the honorable thing, screw the habs ownership committee for what it rightfully deserves…..